USPTO Patents Application 08873597

Serial No.: 08/873,597
Filing Date: June 12, 1997

AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS

This listing of claims will replace all prior versions and listings of all claims in the application.

Listing of Claims

1-18: (Canceled)

19. (Previously presented) An apparatus for the detection of target nucleic acids in a test sample,
comprising:

a) a test chamber comprising a first and a second electrode, wherein said first electrode
comprises:

i. a single stranded nucleic acid covalently attached to said electrode via an insulator,
wherein said insulator is an alkyl oligomer wherein each monomer of said alkyl
oligomer is independently selected from the group consisting of: -(CH 2 ) n -, -(CRH) n -,
-(CR2) n -, ethylene glycol and ethylene glycol derivatives using other heteroatoms in
place of oxygen; wherein n is from 1 to 16; and wherein R is selected from the group
consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alcohol, aromatic amino, amido, nitro, ethers, esters,
aldehydes, sulfonyl, silicon moieties, halogens, sulfur containing moieties,
phosphorous containing moieties, and

ii. a passivation agent monolayer; and

b) an AC/DC voltage source electrically connected to said first and second electrodes.

20. (Previously presented) An apparatus for the detection of target nucleic acids in a test sample,
comprising:

a) a test chamber comprising a first and a second electrode, wherein said first electrode
comprises:

i. a covalently attached single stranded nucleic acid attached to said first electrode via
an insulator, wherein said insulator is an alkyl oligomer wherein each monomer of
said alkyl oligomer is independently selected from the group consisting of: -(CH 2 ) n -, -
(CRH) n -, -(CR2) n -, ethylene glycol and ethylene glycol derivatives using other
heteroatoms in place of oxygen; wherein n is from 1 to 16; and wherein R is selected
from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alcohol, aromatic amino, amido, nitro,
ethers, esters, aldehydes, sulfonyl, silicon moieties, halogens, sulfur containing
moieties, phosphorous containing moieties;

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Serial No.: 08/873,597
Filing Date: June 12, 1997

ii. a passivation agent monolayer; and

iii. a covalently attached first electron transfer moiety; and

b) an AC/DC voltage source electrically connected to said test chamber.

21. (Previously presented) An apparatus according to claim 19, 20 or 26, further comprising:

a processor coupled to said electrodes.

22. (Previously presented) An apparatus according to claim 19, 20 or 26, wherein said AC/DC voltage
source is capable of delivering frequencies from between about 1 Hz to about 100 kHz.

Claims 23-25: (Canceled)

26. (Previously presented) An apparatus for the detection of target nucleic acids in a test sample,
comprising:

a) a test chamber comprising a first and a second electrode, wherein said first electrode
comprises:

i. a covalently attached first single stranded nucleic acid attached to said first electrode
via an insulator, wherein said insulator is an alkyl oligomer wherein each monomer of
said alkyl oligomer is independently selected from the group consisting of: -(CH 2 ) n -, -
(CRH)n-, -(CR2) n -, ethylene glycol and ethylene glycol derivatives using other
heteroatoms in place of oxygen; wherein n is from 1 to 16; and wherein R is selected
from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alcohol, aromatic amino, amido, nitro,
ethers, esters, aldehydes, sulfonyl, silicon moieties, halogens, sulfur containing
moieties, phosphorous containing moieties; and

ii. a passivation agent monolayer; and

b) a second nucleic acid covalently attached to an electron transfer moiety; and

c) an AC/DC voltage source electrically connected to said test chamber.
Claims 27-32: (Canceled)

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Serial No.: 08/873,597
Filing Date: June 12, 1997

33. (Previously presented) An apparatus according to claim 19, 20 or 26 wherein said passivation agent
monolayer comprises conductive oligomers.

34. (Previously presented) An apparatus according to claim 19, 20 or 26 wherein said passivation agent
monolayer comprises insulators.

35. (Previously presented) An apparatus for the detection of target nucleic acids in a test sample,
comprising:

a) a test chamber comprising an array of electrodes, each electrode
comprising

i. a covalently attached single stranded nucleic acid,
attached to said electrodes via an insulator, wherein
said insulator is an alkyl oligomer wherein each
monomer of said alkyl oligomer is independently
selected from the group consisting of: -(CH 2 ) n -, -
(CRH)n-, -(CR2) n -, ethylene glycol and ethylene glycol
derivatives using other heteroatoms in place of
oxygen; wherein n is from 1 to 16; and wherein R is
selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl,
alcohol, aromatic amino, amido, nitro, ethers, esters,
aldehydes, sulfonyl, silicon moieties, halogens, sulfur
containing moieties, phosphorous containing moieties;
and

ii. a passivation agent monolayer; and

b) an AC/DC voltage source electrically connected to said test chamber.
Claims 36-38: (Canceled)

39. (Previously presented) An apparatus according to claim 35 wherein said passivation agent
monolayer comprises conductive oligomers.

40. (Previously presented) An apparatus according to claim 35 wherein said passivation agent
monolayer comprises insulators.

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Serial No.: 08/873,597
Filing Date: June 12, 1997

41. (Previously presented) An apparatus accordingly to claim 19 further comprising,

c) a second nucleic acid covalently attached to an electron transfer moiety.

42. (Previously presented) An apparatus according to claims 19, 20 or 26 wherein said passivation
agent monolayer comprises alkyl chains.

43. (Previously presented) An apparatus according claim 42 wherein said alkyl chains have the formula
C n H x , where n is 1 to 30, and x is 2(n).

44. (Previously presented) An apparatus according to claims 19, 20 or 26 wherein said passivation
agent monolayer comprises terminal groups chosen from the group consisting of-(CH 2 ) n -, -(CRH) n -, -
(CR2) n -, ethylene glycol and ethylene glycol derivatives using other heteroatoms in place of oxygen;
wherein n is from 1 to 16, and wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alcohol,
aromatic amino, amido, nitro, ethers, esters, aldehydes, sulfonyl, silicon moieties, halogens, sulfur
containing moieties, phosphorous containing moieties, and ethylene glycol moieties.

45. (Previously presented) An apparatus according to claims 19, 20 or 26 wherein said passivation
agent monolayer comprises both conductive oligomers and insulators.

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